Guest guest Posted January 30, 2001 Report Share Posted January 30, 2001 Thanks Gretchen, I also live in California, when you say private plan are you speaking of a PPO? Thanks again. BC ----- Original Message ----- From: Gretchen Glick <liliwigg@...> < > Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2001 11:17 AM Subject: [] Insurance > Bill, here's some input for me: > > With Blue Cross (as I am self-employed) they didn't ask any questions > about neurological stuff. Only asked do you smoke?Drink? Have Heart > problems? Just basic info to which of course I checked NO. > > I chose to get a private health insurance plan, due to the fact that the > way I manage my health conditions is to go to whatever Dr. I choose > whenever I need to. I pick the Drs. I go to. I try to check them out > before hand. Also No long wait for an appointment. Nothing needs > 'approval'. Claims paid in reasonable time. I had several Blue +'s to > choose from. Only thing I kind of worry about is Blue + is having some > 'problems' here in Calif. with a few hospitals refusing to take that > insurance! > > There are also State 'pools' for insurance, these are for people that > have medical conditions that get turned down by regular insurance. Check > with your Insurance Commissioner's State Office to see what's availble. > There also might be the Genetically Handicapped Persons' Insurance > program in your state. > > I do not have prescription coverage - but all of that is tax deductible > at the end of the year, so are the monthly payments I make to Blue > Cross. I keep receipts like mad and have this all organized in various > files so I don't end up with tons of paper stubs. Just had the file to > my accountant! > > I didn't say anything about CMT. They didn't ask. I have had no CMT > related health problems, other than a tremors surge this year that > medication got under control. ALL my Drs. DO know I have CMT, I also > keep a one page 'medical brief' updated on myself, here at home. > Whenever I change a medication, or get a new diagnosis (like last year's > slipped disc) I add it to the 'brief'. In a way it is like my own > medical resume. I have a copy, my brother has a copy, all Drs. have > copies, emergency copy with neighbor, also emergency info. in > fridgerator, etc. I update is about 2 times a year, as I update my other > things, will, etc. I also note that I have an Advance Directive and > DPAHC on the medical brief. > > My CMT is mild also, but last year's disc problem was an expensive > little baby! > > ~Gretchen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2001 Report Share Posted January 31, 2001 I work for a doctor's office and as far as I know (at least in New York State) there are no pre-existing condition clauses for HMOs and they could not deny you coverage because you have CMT. Probably any other insurance plan does have pre-existing clauses and you would not be covered for a CMT related problems for a specified number of months but that would depend on the insurance you choose. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2001 Report Share Posted January 31, 2001 This sound right. But I was thinking you can't be denied coverage, but the premiums (if you are put in an insurance pool) would be quite pricey. It's sad because there really isn't a choice. We all need to have insurance coverage. ----- Original Message ----- From: <gdamds@...> < > Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 2:27 PM Subject: Re: [] insurance > I work for a doctor's office and as far as I know (at least in New York > State) there are no pre-existing condition clauses for HMOs and they could > not deny you coverage because you have CMT. Probably any other insurance > plan does have pre-existing clauses and you would not be covered for a CMT > related problems for a specified number of months but that would depend on > the insurance you choose. Hope this helps > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2001 Report Share Posted February 12, 2001 Thank you for the info Ruth, I will call him. Regards, BC ----- Original Message ----- From: <rfc40@...> < > Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 9:11 PM Subject: [] Insurance > Hi Bill , > Here is another option you may wish to pursue regarding insurance > coverage. My company affiliated group insurance is terminating next > week and those of us covered are being transferred to private plans. > HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act) plans with > Blue Cross were taken out for those of us with pre-existing > conditions. I do not believe that they can turn you down if you meet > the qualifications for this plan. They did not ask on the > application form what my pre-existing condition was. They may have > received that information from the group policy holder and my record > of NOT filing claims CMT related or otherwise! I received > confirmation today that my policy will become effective next week. I > don't know what this policy covers yet, as the negotiations were made > by my employer and our broker. I assume it will be equivalent to the > group policy we had. According to our insurance broker, these > plans are offered by all insurance companies, but they are not > advertised. If you were covered under a group plan with your > former employer, you should be granted a HIPAA Plan. My > understanding is that it would be with the same insurance company > that your previous employer has, provided your previous employer > currently uses that company. If your previous employer does not use > the same group insurance company or no longer provides insurance, you > can apply with any company. > Our broker will be out of town for the next two weeks, but if you > wish to contact him directly, he said he would be happy to fill you > in on the details. We are in Santa Barbara, CA, so are fairly close > to your location. Please feel free to call Joe Blum at (805) 687- > 0066 or e-mail him at jblum@.... He gave me permission to > give you his phone and address. I hope this will be useful for you. > Ruth C Santa Barbara, CA > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 Hi. I have been having problems with insurance coverage so I thought I would ask the list if anyone had any advice. I recently lost my insurance. I was on Cobra for a year and a half. It was from my last job. I held onto cobra until it ran out, so I would have coverage while I was getting my master's degree, and hoping I would have a job before Cobra ran out. Well time wasn't on my side, and Cobra ran out before I was able to find a job. Trying to find a job with benefits in rural IL isn't easy. You can't get a job without experience, you can't get experience if you don't have a job. So in the meantime I've been trying to find some sort of coverage for myself, but no companies will insure anyone with RA. GRRRRRRRRRRR. So I'm currently w/o insurance, which everyone here knows isn't a good thing. Has anyone here gotten insurance here outside of being insured through work? any advice would be greatly appreciated. __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 There was a post on this subject on another web site I follow. http://www.arthritisinsight.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=13 The title was Insurance Rant. It's a pretty active boars so you may have to scroll down a ways to find the post. God bless. > > From: <jamie8177@...> > Date: 2004/05/03 Mon AM 01:44:04 GMT > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Subject: insurance > > Hi. > I have been having problems with insurance coverage so I thought I would ask the list if anyone had any advice. I recently lost my insurance. I was on Cobra for a year and a half. It was from my last job. I held onto cobra until it ran out, so I would have coverage while I was getting my master's degree, and hoping I would have a job before Cobra ran out. Well time wasn't on my side, and Cobra ran out before I was able to find a job. Trying to find a job with benefits in rural IL isn't easy. You can't get a job without experience, you can't get experience if you don't have a job. So in the meantime I've been trying to find some sort of coverage for myself, but no companies will insure anyone with RA. GRRRRRRRRRRR. So I'm currently w/o insurance, which everyone here knows isn't a good thing. Has anyone here gotten insurance here outside of being insured through work? any advice would be greatly appreciated. > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 Do the lawyers take a certain percentage once and done or is it a set amount each month for X amount of time? I am confused as to how you survive if a portion of your check each month has to go to a lawyer...just wondering how it works. I may be in this boat sooner then I thought. My dh has RA. Thanks- ----- Original Message ----- From: paula delarosa Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 2:22 PM Subject: Insurance It took me 2 1/2 years to get approved for medicaid and the lawyer didn't take a penny out until I was approved and he took it out of the first retroactive payment. So, it is good to get started on that. I have medicaid and it is a blessing for me. Also needymeds.com is a place to look into. I have a whole list I can send you. Drug companies will also help you. Hang in there....it's not easy. Hugs..a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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